Image display device and method

Abstract

An image display device is provided. The device may include a base and a clear transparent member. The transparent member includes a curved surface. At least one light source is in operative connection with the base. The transparent member is operative to supportingly receive at least one image medium in a curved orientation between the light source and the curved surface. In this orientation, the light source is operative to transmit light through the transparent member and the image medium. The device may further include a cover positioned above the transparent member, wherein the cover includes an aperture therethrough. A handle may be in operative connection with the cover. The handle may include a pin which extends through the aperture and which is operative to direct light from the light source through the handle to illuminate the portions of the handle that extend above the cover.

1 . An image display device apparatus comprising: 
 a base, wherein the base includes a stepped contour comprised of plurality of radially inwardly directed consecutive steps;    a clear transparent member in operative connection with the base, wherein the transparent member includes a curved surface;    a cover positioned above the transparent member, wherein the cover includes a stepped contour comprised of a plurality of radially inwardly directed consecutive steps; and    at least one light source mounted between the base and cover, wherein the transparent member is operative to supportingly receive at least one image medium in a curved orientation between the light source and the curved surface, wherein the light source is operative to transmit light through the transparent member and the image medium.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is comprised of a plurality of stacked platters with different sizes, wherein the platters of the base are stacked in order of size beginning with the largest sized platter on bottom, wherein the cover is comprised of a plurality of stacked platters with different sizes, wherein the platters of the cover are stacked in order of size beginning with the largest platter on bottom, whereby the stacked base and cover platters form the stepped contours of the base and cover.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the base includes at least three stacked platters with different sizes, wherein the cover includes at least three stacked platters with different sizes.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one platter of the base and cover platters is transparent, wherein the at least one transparent platter is operative to transmit light from the light source out of the apparatus.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of each of the base platters and cover platters is transparent.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the transparent member is a clear transparent cylindrical tube, wherein the light source is mounted within the tube, wherein the base and cover platters have generally circular shapes, wherein the base, tube, and cover are adapted to be mounted together in axial alignment.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the base platters correspond to rings with a central aperture adapted to receive the cylindrical tube therethrough.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the rings are individually removable from the base.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the platters are mounted together with at least one of at least one fastener and an adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the rings each include at least three inner radial oriented spokes which extend between the inner surface of the ring and the outer wall of the tube, wherein the tube is operative to slide between ends of the spokes.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the bottom platter includes a first member and a second member, wherein the second member is smaller than the first member, wherein the first member includes an aperture therethrough and a bottom side, wherein the second member is in operative connection with the bottom side of the first member, wherein the second member spans at least a portion of the aperture.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second member is transparent, wherein the light source is operative to transmit light through the second member.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the light source is mounted to the second member, wherein the second member is removably mounted to the first member with at least one fastener.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least three legs extending downwardly from the bottom platter, wherein the legs are longer than the thickness of the second member, whereby when the apparatus is positioned above a generally flat surface, the second member is elevate above the surface, wherein the second member includes a plurality of vent holes therethrough  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparent member includes a clear transparent cylindrical tube, wherein the light source is mounted within the tube.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the cover includes an aperture therethrough, and further comprising: 
 a handle in operative connection with the cover, wherein the handle includes a transparent pin which extends through the aperture, wherein the pin is operative to direct light from the light source through the handle to illuminate the portions of the handle that extend above the cover.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the cover is comprised of a plurality of stacked circular platters with different diameters and centrally positioned apertures, wherein the pin of the handle extends through the aperture in each platter.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the tube is operative to receive adjacent an inside surface thereof an image medium with planar dimensions corresponding to a standard photography enlargement size selected from the group comprising 8×10 inches and 5×7 inches, wherein when installed within the tube, about all of the surface area of the inside of the tube which is visible from outside the tube is covered by the image medium.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mirrored surface in operative connection with at least one of the cover and the base.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a back wall in operative connection between the base and the cover, wherein the back wall includes a front side, wherein the transparent member includes a first side end and a second side end in adjacent the back wall, wherein portions of the transparent member between the first side end and the second side ends bows horizontally outwardly from the front side of the back wall.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the front side of the back wall, cover, and base include a mirrored surface.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the back wall includes at least one vertical slot therethrough which intersects with an arcuate groove in the base and with an arcuate groove in the cover, wherein the vertical slot is operative to receive a planar image medium therethrough and to direct the image medium into alignment with the arcuate grooves of the cover and base, wherein the top edge of the image medium is operative to slide within the groove in the cover and the bottom edge of the image medium is operative to slide within the groove in the base.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the transparent member is a removable clear transparent sheet that is operative to slide through the slot in the back wall, wherein the top edge of the transparent sheet is operative to slide within the groove in the cover and the bottom edge of the transparent sheet is operative to slide within the groove in the base.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the back wall includes first and second spaced apart support members, wherein the transparent member is a removable clear transparent sheet in operative connection with the back wall between the base and the cover, wherein the transparent member includes a curved surface, wherein the transparent sheet includes a first side end and a second side end, wherein the light source is mounted between the back wall and the transparent sheet, wherein the transparent sheet is operative to supportingly receive adjacent thereto at least one image medium in a curved orientation between the light source and the transparent sheet, wherein the light source is operative to transmit light through the transparent sheet and the image medium, wherein the image medium includes a first side end and a second side end, wherein the first support member includes a first surface that is operative to receive the first side end of the transparent sheet and the first side end of the image medium, wherein the second support member includes a second surface that is operative to receive the second side end of the transparent sheet and the second side end of the image medium, wherein the first support member and the second support member are operative to vertically orient the first and second side ends of the transparent sheet and the image medium to initially extend outwardly from the first and second support members at inwardly directed angles, whereby the transparent sheet and the image medium bow outwardly from the back wall.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein a first vertical plane that is parallel to the first inner surface and a second vertical plane that is parallel to the second inner surface, extend at first and second inwardly directed angles from a vertical plane that transverses the first and second vertical planes, wherein the first and second angles are between 90 and 45 degrees.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the first and second inner surfaces are located within vertical slots in the back wall.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the first and second inner surfaces face each other and extend away from the back surface at the inwardly directed angles.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a media device in operative connection with the cover, wherein the media device includes a visible display, wherein the media device is operative to continuously output indicia representative of a current time through the display.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the media device includes a programable memory adapted to store data corresponding to at least one alarm, further comprising a sound output device in operative connection with the media device, wherein the media device is operative to cause the sound output device to emit a sound responsive to the alarm data.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the alarm data includes a pre-recorded human language message, wherein the media device is operative to cause the sound output device to output the pre-recorded human language message.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the pre-recorded human language message corresponds to at least one human, wherein the image medium includes a visible image representative of the at least one human.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , further comprising a microphone device in operative connection with the media device, wherein the media device is operative responsive to sound signals received through the microphone device to control the operation of the media device.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the media device is operative to control the output of light from the light source responsive to alarm data.